Mid Sweden University

In the present work, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe₂O₄ NPs) have been synthesized by combustion method. The surface of the CoFe₂O₄ NPs was modified with biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). To investigate effect and nature of coating on the surface of CoFe₂O₄ NPs, the NPs were characterized X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) results demonstrate the monodispersed characteristics of CoFe₂O₄ NPs after surface modification with PVA. The decrease in contact angle from 162° to 50° with PVA coating on NPs indicates the transition from hydrophobic nature to hydrophilic. The Magnetic properties measurement system (MPMS) results show that the NPs have ferromagnetic behavior with high magnetization of 75.04 and 71.02 emu/g of uncoated and coated CoFe₂O₄ NPs respectively. These PVA coated NPs exhibit less toxicity over uncoated CoFe₂O₄ NPs up to 1.8 mg mL⁻¹ when tested with mouse fibroblast L929 cell line.